Apparatus for continuously winding filamentary material

ABSTRACT

There is provided an apparatus for continuously winding yarn on a pair of successive bobbins. This apparatus comprises a pair of mandrels positioned in axial relationship to one another and including means for releasably supporting a pair of bobbins. It also comprises driving means for rotating the mandrels with the bobbins thereon in surface contact with a pair of rolls and means for moving the mandrels with the bobbins thereon in and out ot contact with said rolls. The apparatus also includes a unitary guide-traveler-transfer assembly which comprises a yarn guide mounted on a traveler which reciprocates on a traveler roll for laying the yarn backward and forward onto a bobbin, and a carriage for the guide, traveler and traveler roll with transfer means for transferring this carriage from in front of a full bobbin to in front of an empty bobbin. Finally means are provided for anchoring the yarn on the empty bobbin during the transfer operation as well as for cutting this yarn between the two bobbins.

[111 3,823,885 [451 July 16, 1974 APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY WINDINGFILAMENTARY MATERIAL [75] Inventor: Robin F. De Schulthess, Montreal,Quebec, Canada [73] Assignee: The Bobtex Corporation Limited,

Montreal, Quebec, Canada 22 Filed: July 3,1972

21 Appl. No.: 268,791

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 8, 1971 Canada... 117792[52] US. Cl 242/18 A, 242/19, 242/46.4 [51] Int. Cl 1365b 54/02 ['58]Field of Search 242/18 A, 25 A, 19

[56] I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,393,286 10/1921 Hos ford242/25 A 1,476,755 12/1923 Huttinger.. 242/18 A UX 2,214,332 9/1940Kline 242/18 A UX 2,524,623 l0/1950 Colombu 242/18 A UX 2,600,841 6/1952Bruestle 242/18 A UX 2,653,773 9/1953 Davis 242/25 A 2,929,569 3/1960Detrick et al...... 242/18 A UX FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 822,60210/1959 Great Britain 242/18 A 1,090,892 11/1967 Great Britain 242/18 A1,139,695 1/1969 Great Britain 242/18 A Primary Examiner- Stanley N.Gilreath Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Stevens, Davis, Miller &

Mosher [5 7] ABSTRACT There is provided an apparatus for continuouslywinding yarn on a pair of successive bobbins. This apparatus comprises apair of mandrels positioned in axial relationship to one another andincluding means for releasably supporting a pair of bobbins. It alsocomprises driving means for rotating the mandrels with the bobbinsthereon in surface contact with a pair of rolls and means for moving themandrels with the bobbins thereon in and out 0t contact with said rolls.Theapparatus also includes a unitary guide-traveler-transfer assemblywhich comprises a yarn guide mounted on a traveler which reciprocates ona traveler roll for laying the yarn backward and forward onto a bobbin,and a carriage for the guide, traveler and traveler roll withtransfermeans for transferring this carriage from in front of afullbobbin to in front of an empty bobbin. Finally means are provided foranchoring the yarn-on the empty bobbin during the transfer operation aswell as for cutting this yarn between the two bobbins.

19 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PAH-1m n JUL 1 61974 SHEET 3 BF 4 Thisinvention relates to a winder'for continuously winding filamentrymaterials such as threads, yarns and the like onto successive axiallyspaced apart bobbins which are surface or axially driven in frictionalcontact with a roll. The invention is particularly suitable for thewinding of filaments or yarns which have been directly extruded from anextrusion die and then longitudinally oriented and/or treated in adesired manner, although of course it can be utilized for other forms ofyarn production systems such as texturizing machines and the like.

Several types of winders are known in the art for the continuous windingof filamentry materials. For example, one type is disclosed in US. Pat.No. 2,296,339 of Sept. 22, 1942 to S. A. Daniels. This particular patentdescribes a device for continuously winding textile fila-' ments, yarnsand threads, which device generally comprises two freely rotatablebobbins, a positively driven drive roll, means to bring the bobbins intodriving contact with the'driveroll in axial alignment, and two freelyrotatable doffing wheels mounted to contact the drive roll between theadjacent ends of the bobbins in.

axial alignment with said bobbins. The doffing wheels and the adjacentends of the bobbins are each provided with a band comprising a pluralityof radially extending ends adapted to engage'the yarn withoutsubstantially modifying its speed of travel, and means are mountedbetween the doffing whee-ls for severing yarn. Finally traversing threadguide means associated with each bobbin and positioned to feed yarn intothe bobbin at substantially its line of contact with the drive roll, andmeans of shifting the yarn from one thread guide to another, areprovided in the apparatus of Daniels.

A more recent patent disclosing a similar type of winder is British Pat.specification No; 1,090,892 published Nov. I5, 1967 and belonging to theKlinger Manufacturing Company Limited. It describes an apparatus forwinding yarn onto successive bobbins, which apparatus comprises a pairof axially spaced apart spindles for receiving the bobbins, means forrotating the bobbins by friction rollers,'yarn traversing guides forlaying the yarn backward and forward on bobbins mounted on the spindles,a yarn guide mounted onan arm which is pivoted about an'axis traverse tothe axis of rotation of the spindles and disposed so that when the armis swung about this transverse axis the yarn guide is moved'from aposition opposite one of the spindles to a position opposite the otherof the spindles and the yarn is caused to'move through an'arcuate pathwhich lifts the yarn out of one of the yarn traversing guides and causesthe yarn to be engaged with the other yarn traversing guide by reason ofthe traversing movement of the other traversing guide.

The winder of the present invention is of the same general type as thosementioned above, namely it involves continuous winding of yarn on a pairof successive, replacable, axially spaced apart bobbins each of which ispositioned on a spindle. However the bobbins may be driven by frictionalengagement with a pair of driving rolls or axially driven in surfacecontact with idling rolls. The invention also provides several importantimprovements which will be clearly described hereinafter.

Basically the winding apparatus of the present invention comprises: apair of mandrels positioned in axial relationship with one another andincluding means for releasably'supporting a pair of bobbins; drivingmeans for rotating said bobbins in surface contact with a driving roll;means for moving the bobbins in and out of contact with said rolls,which can be operated manually; a unitary assembly comprising a yarnguide, traveler and carriage arrangement including a traveler carriageguide for laying the yarn backward and forward onto the bobbins and fortransferring the feeding of the yarn from a full bobbin to the empty;and means for anchoring the yarn during the transfer of the feeding.

There are several additional optional features which constitute furtherimportant embodiments of the novel winding apparatus such as: a systemthat initiates the transfer of the feeding from one bobbin to the otherwhen a-predetermined diameter of the package has been reached; aspecific design and arrangement of a knife between the two bobbinsforcutting the yarn during transfer; a particularly advantageous mandrelassembly with expanding mandrels having'release levers for releasablysupporting the bobbins and preferably comprising retractable snaggerpins; and a particular arrangement of cantilevered package supportswhich ensure satisfactory transfer of the yarn feeding, even from smallpackages, to the empty bobbin. I

It should also be pointed out that the removable bobbins, althoughnecessary for operating the winding apparatus, are not an essential partof the apparatus itself which will actually be manufactured and soldwithout the bobbins and the latter will be placed on the. mandrels justbefore or during the operation of the apparatus. The bobbins can, ofcourse, be of various desired types and shapes.

The basic difference between the winder of the present invention andsimilar winders of the prior art resides in the unitary assemblycomprising the yarn guide, the traveler and the transfer arrangement forlaying the yarn backwards and forwards onto the bobbins and fortransferring the feeding of the yarn from the full bobbin to the emptybobbin. Up to now, similar arrangements in winders contained twoseparate traversing thread guides, one moving in front of each bobbin,and a mechanism for transferring the yarn from one such guide to theother via an arcuate or similar path.

This presents some obvious disadvantages because a yarn which is inconstant movement is difficult to manipulate and to transfer from oneguide to' another. At the point of transfer, the yarn is lifted from oneguide and dropped into the path of the second oscillating guide. Theoscillating guide must then engage the transferred yarn which isdifficult at high speeds andmay break or entangle during such transferwhich would then require stopping the whole operation and repairv ingthe defect and then restarting again. This is costly and time consuming.Furthermore, the transfer and coordinating mechanisms are usually rathercomplex if automation'is to be achieved and they require constantsupervision','adjustment and repairs. This again in creases the cost ofsuch known winders and renders a single yam guide provided on a singletraveler device which is carried by a single carriage arrangement fromin front of one bobbin to the next and the whole constituting a unitaryand efficient assembly.

In addition,it is understandable that at the instant of transfer, thecyclic oscillation of the yarn guide is added to the transfer motion. Itis important for satisfactory transfer that the two motions be additive.If, for example, the transfer from left to right were initiated at aninstant when the guide is going from right to left across the fullpackage, there would be an instant when the yarn would have no relativemotion with respect 'to the package, the transfer motion cancelling outthe .winding motion. This cancellation can occur on occasion midwaybetween the two packages during the transfer cycle. It may result inyarn being accumulated between the two packages with consequententanglement and abortive transfer.

To avoid this and to achieve proper timing, the transfer shouldpreferably be commenced when the yarn guide is at the extreme end of itstravel and about to start moving in the same direction as the pendingtransfer motion. This point can be detected by a'numberof ways such as afluidic sensing element, a' mechanical, electrical or electronic sensingelement or any number of proximity detectors which are available on themarket and which will not wear out with repeated operation.

Another important and particularly advantageous embodiment of thepresent invention resides in the construction of the mandrels which areexpanding in nature and are provided with release levers for releasablysupporting the bobbins or cores on which the yarn is'wound intopackages. Consequently, when the levers are in the position of operationof the winding device, the mandrels are expanded so as to engage thebobbins or cores positioned thereon in a tight manner suitable forwinding of the'yarn. On the other hand, when the lever is released, themandrelsretract and permit easy removal of the bobbins or cores with theyarn package wound thereon. Moreover, the package core or support can beprovided with the so called cantilevered arrangement which first of allenables a package to be removed from the system without a loose mandreland secondly to effect the transfer operation with the transfer side ofeach package bieng completely. uncluttered and free from any mechanismsthat might adversely affect the transfer of the yarn. This cantileveredsystem is particularly important in the case of transferring yarn from asmall diameter core with very little or virtually no yarn on it to a newempty core. In such cases there is very little difference in radius atthe point of transfer and there will be no tendency for the yarn to beconnecting the two packages without actual severing taking place even ifthere is a cutting point provided be:

tween the two packages. After several minutes of operation therotational action of the yarn will enable sepa-. ration to take placeeffectively. This phenomenon, however, necessitates a cantilevered rollsupport system otherwise entanglement would take place on the innerarms.

In addition, the ends of these expanding mandrels which are adjacent toeach other are generally provided with snagger pins. the purpose ofwhich is to ensure that the yarn wraps around the new core. Withoutthese pins the yarn would merely be nipped between the contact roll andthe new core and not wrap. No cutting or severingaction would take placeeither. As the transfer takes place, the yarn may be pictured as forminga straight line with the two packages. As incremental rotation takesplace, the snagger pin hooks and catches the cross yarn and starts towrap the yarn around the new core. At the same time, the back end of theyarn remains on the full package and is dragged along'a differentradius, that of the full package. This action drags the cross yarn whichis thus snapped. If a knife or similar cutting device is providedbetween the two packages then the yarn is dragged thereinto and cut dueto further rotation or as a result of the difference in diameters of thetwo packages. The trailing edge of the cut yarn from the full packagecontinues to rotate away from the knife zone, until the full package isremoved from engagement with the contact rolls and then from themandrel. According to another embodiment, when the lever is actuated forreleasing the bobbins with the full package thereon, the snagger pin orpins are retracted so as to permit removal of the package and also forsafety purposes. This is particularly important in the case ofcantilevered core supports.

In some other cases, however, which can also be adopted in accordancewith the present invention, such as double arm core supports, it is notabsolutely necessary that the snagger pin be retractable and, of course,such snagger pins can have various designs the function of which is toprovide proper snagging or anchoring efi being wound they can be easilysnapped during the dragged and severed. In such cases the two packagesmust rotate for many revolutions with the yarn intertransfer operationfrom the full bobbin to the empty, it

is by far preferred to have a knife arrangement between the two packageswhich ensures that the yarn will be properly cut during the transferoperation. It has been found thata particularly advantageous arrangementof the knife assembly will include a curved feeding plate leading to theknife itself which guides the yarn strung between the two packagesduring the transfer up to the knife proper. The knife is positioned atan angle to the feeding plate and protrudes to the feeding plate whichhas a large clearance slot. The purpose of this slot is to permit theyarn to be drawn backwards through the knife while being pressed againstit and yet have no possibility of wedging or jamming between the feedingplate and knife itself. The back end of the feeding plate area and knifeis clear so that yarn that may remain in the knifeis pushed clear bysubsequent transfer operations. A top feeding plate may also be part ofthe assembly and may be used to hold the knife and ensure that any looseyarn is also directed into the cutting zone.

The 'nip point of the knife and of the feeding plate is generallylocated on the centre lin'eof the new core to enable the severed end torotate on the new package and be held by the feeding plate knifearrangement whilethe new core rotates for a few revolutions. If thecutting point were off the centre ofthe new core, the end of the newpackage would immediately fly loose the moment the cut was complete andin many instances it would fly clear of the snagger pin and not I starta proper wrap. As soon as the new core has made The invention will nowbe further described, by way of example, with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the winder according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the yarn guide-travelertransfer assembly inthe winder according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a back elevation view of the winder according to theinvention;

FIG. 4 is a view of a transfer initiating mechanism that can be used inthe winder according to this invention;

FIG. 5 is a partial view showing the position of a cutter arrangementfor cutting the yarn during its transfer from one bobbin to'the other;

FIG. 6 is a more detailed view of one embodiment of such cutterarrangement; and

FIG. 7 is a section view of a cantilevered expanding mandrel arrangementthat can be used in the winder according to this invention.

Referring now to these drawings which represent a preferred but anonlimitative embodiment of the invention, and particularly referring toFIGS. 1 to 3, the novel winder comprises first of all a frame 10 whichsupports and generally encompasses the whole appara tus. Between thelateral side walls of this frame there is provided a mandrel arm shaft11 pivotally supporting at each side end of the framea mandrel arm 12.The mandrel arm 12 may be pivoted on a shaft manually by using handle17. At the upper end of the mandrel arms 12 there are provided a pair ofexpanding mandrels 13a and 13b which are supported in a cantiliveredfashion and can be expanded or retracted by using release levers 19a and19b. On these mandrels are removably mounted a pair of bobbins or coresa and 15b on which the yarn is wound in succession to form yarn packages14. The bobbins or cores 15a and 15b are sur-' face driven by frictionalengagement with driving rolls tioned generally-in front of the drivingrolls 16. It comprises first of all a yarn guide 22 through which passesyarn 24 and by which it is guided just before being wound on the bobbin.The yarn guide 22 is mounted on a traveler 27 which at its bottom has aprojection 26 reciprocating on a conventional traveler cam 36 having onits surface an endless helicoidal groove.

. The traveler cam 36 is mounted on a traveler drive shaft 40 and isprovided with a traveler carriage 38 which itself rests on the travelercarriage guiding beam 42. At its upper end, just above the traveler cam36, the traveler carriage has a rod which supports traveler 27 and onwhich said traveler reciprocates. The traveler drive shaft 40 may alsobe driven by motor 18 or by a separate motor 49 at a desired speed. I

The carriage 38 is operated by'a cylinder 46 in which transfer piston 44slides. The piston-cylinder device may be of any suitable type butpreferably it is actuated pneumatically. The forward end of the pistonis attached by connecting element 48 to the traveler carriage 38 in sucha way that'when the piston is outside cylinder device is then energizedby synchronizing mechanisms 28a or 2812 positioned at each end of thewinder frame. These synchronizing mechanisms are provided with levers29a and 2% respectively which. when they are in operating position,protrude outwardly from the top. When they are hit by the projection 26they immediately start operation of the pistoncylinder device and thusthe transfer of the traveler carriage from in front of one mandrel to infront of the other. The mechanisms 28a and 28b are themselves activatedby the sensing switch 30 or a manual device. The sensing switch 30 isstruck by element 34 adjustably mounted on the mandrel arm shaft, whichis achieved when the desired size of the yarn package 14 is reached, thesensing switch transmits the transfer signal via an electrical wire 32to the appropriate synchronizing mechanism 28 which is thereby activatedand enables lever 29 to project upwardly from such mechamsm.

The synchronizing mechanism 28 illustrated in FIG.

4 as one example of such a device, comprises a solenoid 54 whichreceives the signal from the sensing switch 30, is actuated through itsarm 56 and lever 58 which is pivotally mounted on pivot 60. Theactuation is done by pulling thislever into position shown in solidlines in FIG. 4 from that shown in dotted lines at which the lever restsagainst stop 62 and the tension spring 64 is in a retracted condition.In such inactive state the lever 29 does not contact anything. In theactuated state this lever 29, which is connected to switch 61, protrudesoutside of the casing of the synchronizing mechanism 28 and can be hitby projection 26 thereby initiating the transfer. I

Furthermore, a knife or cutter assembly 25 is preferably providedbetween the driving rolls 16a and 16b and consequently between themandrels 13a and 13b to facilitate automatic separation of the yarnafter transfer from one core to the other (FIG. 5). A particularlypreferred arrangement of such assembly is shown in FIG. 6 from which itis clear that apart from the knife 65 the assembly may also comprise acurved bottom feeding plate 66 and a top feeding plate 68 to insure thatthe yarn will be properly guided to the knife and cut during thetransfer operation and will not deviate or become cloggedsomewhere'between the two bobbins.

Finally, FIG. 7 illustrates in greater detail one possible arrangementof the cantilivered mandrel 13 which can be used with particularadvantage in the winder of this invention. According to this arrangementthe mandrel 13 is supported by a'can'tilivered support70 which has a cam71 to which a release lever 19 (not shown in this figure) is attached.Around cam 71 a cam bushing 72 is provided and in the middle acompression spring 73 of release shaft 77 is inserted with a dowel pin74 above and below said spring.

Cam 71 contains a helical slot into which cam follower pin 75 isinserted. As cam mechanism 71 is ro-' tated through cam follower pin 75drives the central release shaft 77 axially as illustrated by a smallarrow at the left hand end of FIG. 7, sliding in bushing 79.

The entire structure is supported by a winder arm shaft 76 on which aremounted the main ball bearings 80. The core or bobbin is supported onrear support 81 and front support 82, the entire mechanism being rotatedby frictional engagement.

The release shaft 77 which extends into cam 71 is prevented fromrotation by shoulder screw 78 within an axial slot located in shaft 77.Consequently, neither the winder shaft 76 nor the release shaft 77rotate within the assembly with the only movement being the releaseshaft moving forwards when mandrel release is required. Under normalcondition with the-release shaft retracted, no contact is made betweensaid shaft and the expanding head 21. The expanding head 21 of themandrel has a pointed wedgingrimv86 which in expanded condition wedgesand securely holds in place the core 15 while in released or retractedcondition enables said core to be easily removed. Thereis alsoprovidedbetween the expanding head 21 and the front support 82 a cap screw 88and a compressing spring 89 in order to achieve this wedging action. Andfinally, snagger pins 32 with their lower ends resting on the outersurface of the front support 82 and provided with snagger compressionsprings 84 protrude outwardly from the side portion of the expandinghead 21 in its expanded condition and retract automatically in thereleased condition. This is because the end portion of the snaggerpin'will slip on the surface of the front support 82 and together withthe action of the compression spring 84 will retract inside the cavityof the expanding head 21. lt should be noted that three or four suchsnagger pins are usually provided in each expanding head. The operationof such a mechanism is very simple. It is sufficient to rotate cam 71 bymeans of release lever 19 in order to release the whole assembly andenable insertion or removal of core 15and then to rotate back said cam71 in order to expand the assembly and wedge the core 15 into positionreadyfor winding of yarn thereon.

Also, the operation of the whole winder apparatus is simple andefficient. The filamentary material such as yarn 24 passes through yarnguide 22 which is mounted on the traveler 27 reciprocating on travelercam 36 due to the action of motor 18 or 49. The yarn is thus wound onbobbin or core 15b mounted on mandrel 1312 surface driven by drivingroll 1612 which itself is driven by motor 18. When a desired size of theyarn package 14 has been reached, the piston-cylinder couple 44, 46 isactivated to t ransfer'the whole traveler carriage in front of bobbinor'core'l5a where the winding continues on a new bobbin. This transfercan be done automatically by element 34 on the mandrel arm shaft which,when the predetermined size of the package 14 has been reached,activates the sensing switch 30 which transmits the signal through wire32 to solenoid 54 which actuates lever 58 and switch 61 and enableslever 29 to protrude out of the transfer synchronizing mechanism 28.This lever 29 is struck by projection '26 in the extreme position oftraverse. At this instant car- 'riage motion commences in the samedirection as the desired transfer which is initiated by energizing viathe afore mentioned switch 61 the piston-cylinder couple.

During the transfer, the yarn is cut by knife arrangement positionedbetween the two bobbins and securely wrapped around the new bobbin withthe help of snagger pins 23. In order to remove the package 14 it ispivoted away from the driving roll 16 by using handle 17, when theexpanding mandrel is released and the package simply removed therefromwhereafter a new core or bobbin is installed on the mandrel which isthen expanded and placed again in position to receive yarn thereon, allthis being done while winding proceeds on the other bobbin.

It should also be noted that the invention is not limited to thespecific embodiments described and illustrated but that differentmodifications evident to those skilled in the art can be carried outwithout departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of theappended claims. Thus, any type of bobbins or cores can be used insteadof those illustrated in the drawings. Many types of cutting arrangementsor snagger means can also be employed and positioned in a desiredfashion. In some instances thecantilivered arrangement of the mandrelscan be replaced by double-arm core supports as long as they are properlypositioned and there is provided a means to remove the yarn package fromone of them while the other is being used for winding yarn thereon. Andthe surface driving rolls may be replaced by idlers in which case themandrels are driven directly.

1 claim: v r

l. Apparatusfor continuously winding filamentary material on a pair ofsuccessive bobbins to form self supporting packages comprising: 0

a pair of mandrelspositioned in axial relationship to one another;

means included in said mandrels for releasably supporting "said bobbins;

a pair of rolls adapted to enter into surface contact with the bobbinson the mandrels;

driving means for rotating said rolls which in turn will rotate saidmandrels by frictional surface engagement when said rolls are in surfacecontact with the bobbins mounted on said mandrels;

means for moving the mandrels with the bobbins mounted thereon in andout of surface contact with said rolls;

a unitary guide-traveler-transfer assembly including a traveler cam, atraveler adapted to reciprocate on said traveler cam and a guide for thefilamentary material mounted on the traveler for reciprocation therewithand laying of the filamentary material backward and forward onto apredetermined bobbin, and including a carriage for said traveler cam,traveler and guide as well as transfer means for transferring saidcarriage from in front of one bobbin to in front of the other bobbin;and

means for anchoring the filamentary material on the empty bobbin duringthe transfer operation.

2. Apparatus for continuously winding filamentary material on a pair ofsuccessive bobbins to form self supporting packages, comprising:

a pair of mandrels positioned in axial relationship to one another;

means included in said mandrels for releasably supporting said bobbins;

driving means for axially rotating said mandrels;

a pair of idler rolls adapted to enter into surface contact 'with thebobbins on the mandrels;

means for moving the mandrels with the bobbins mounted thereon in andout of surface contact with said idler rolls;

a unitary guide-traveler-transfer assembly including a traveler cam, atraveler adapted to reciprocate on said traveler cam and a guide for thefilamentary material mounted on the traveler for reciprocation therewithand laying of the filamentary material backward and forward onto apredetermined bobbin, and including a carriage for said traveler cam,traveler and guide as well as transfer means for transferring saidcarriage from in front of one bob bin to in front of the other bobbin;and

means for anchoring the filamentary material on the empty bobbin duringthe transfer operation.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said mandrels are providedwith cantilevered supports and with expanding heads and include releaselevers connected by means of a cam to said cantilevered supports andadapted to expand the expanding head of each mandrel and thereby lockthe bobbin thereon as well as to releasesaid head and thereby enablewithdrawal of the bobbin from the mandrel, and

retractable snagger pins provided in said expanding head for anchoringthe filamentary material during the transfer thereof from one bobbin tothe other.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said mandrels are providedwith cantilevered supports and with expanding heads and include releaselevers connected by means of a cam to said cantilevered supports andadapted to expand the expanding head of each mandrel and thereby lockthe bobbin thereon as well as to release said head and thereby enablewithdrawal of the bobbin from the mandrel, and

retractable snagger pins provided in said expanding head for anchoringthe filamentary material during the transfer thereof from one bobbin tothe other.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for moving themandrels with bobbins thereon in and out of contact with said pair ofrolls are manually operable.

6. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said means for moving themandrels with bobbins thereon in and out of contact with said pair ofidler rolls are manufally operable.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said traveler cam of theunitary guide-traveler-transfer assembly is provided with an endlesshelicoidal groove on its surface and means are provided for rotatingsaid traveler cam axially,.and said traveler comprises a projectionwhich moves within said endless helicoidal groove of the rotatingtraveler cam and thereby reciprocates on said traveler cam, entrainingtherewith the traveler and the guide.

8. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said traveler cam of theunitary guide-traveler-transfer assembly is provided with an endlesshelicoidal groove on its surface and means are provided for rotatingsaid traveler cam axially, and said traveler comprises a projectionwhich moves within said endless helicoidal groove of the rotatingtraveler cam and thereby reciprocates on said traveler cam, entrainin gtherewith the traveler and the guide.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transfer means fortransferring the carriage from in front of one bobbin to in front of theother bobbin consists of a cylinder-piston couple and said carriage isattached to the end of the piston of said couple.

10 Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said transfer means fortransferring the carriage from in front of one bobbin to in front of theother bobbin consists of a cylinder-piston couple and said carriage isattached to the end of the piston of said couple. v

11. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sensing deviceand means for activating said sensing device when the package offilamentary material on one bobbin reaches a predetermiend size as wellas means for initiating transfer of the carriage at that point.

12. Apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a sensing deviceand means for activating said sensing device when the package offilamentary material on one bobbin reaches a predetermined size as wellas means for initiating transfer of the carriage at that point.

13. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a mechanism forsynchronizing transfer of the carriage, said mechanism being positionedso as to initiate the transfer when the traveler is at the extreme endof itstravel and is about to start itsmovement towards the middle of theapparatus, namely in the same direction as the pending transfer motion.

14. Apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a mechanism forsynchronizing transfer of the car- .riage, said mechanism beingpositioned so as to initiate the transfer when the traveler is at theextreme end of its travel and is about to start its movement towards themiddle of the apparatus, namely in the same direction as the pendingtransfer motion.

15. Apparatus according to Claim 1, further comprising a cutting devicebetween the two bobbins adapted feeding plate leading to the knife andadapted to guide the filamentary material strung between the two bobbinsup to the knife where it is securely cut.

.19. Apparatus for continuously winding yarn on a pair of successivebobbins to form self supporting yarn pacakges, comprising: i

a'pair of expanding mandrels positioned in axial relationship toone'another'; 7

means included in said mandrels for releasably supporting said bobbins,each of said mandrels having a cantilevered support and an expandinghead;

release levers connected by a cam to said cantilevcr ed support andadapted to expand the expanding head of each mandrel and thereby lockthe bobbin thereon as well as to release said head and thereby enablewithdrawal of said bobbin from the mandrcl;

retractable snagger pins provided in said expanding head for anchoringthe yarn during transfer thereof from one bobbin to the other;

bins thereon by frictional surface engagement;

means for moving the mandrels with the bobbins driving rolls forrotating said mandrels with the bobfor said traveler cam, traveler andyarn guide operated by cylinder-piston transfer means and adapted totransfer said carraige from in front of one bobbin to in front of theother bobbin;

a sensing device and means for activating said sensing device when thepackage of the yarn on one of the bobbins has reached a predeterminedsize, as well as means for synchronizing transfer of the carriage atthat point so that transfer thereof starts when the traveler is at theextreme end of its travel and is about to commence its movement in thesame direction as the pending transfer motion; and

a cutting device for securely cutting the yarn between the two expandingmandrels during transfer of the

1. Apparatus for continuously winding filamentary material on a pair ofsuccessive bobbins to form self supporting packages comprising: a pairof mandrels positioned in axial relationship to one another; meansincluded in said mandrels for releasably supporting said bobbins; a pairof rolls adapted to enter into surface contact with the bobbins on themandrels; driving means for rotating said rolls which in turn willrotate said mandrels by frictional surface engagement when said rollsare in surface contact with The bobbins mounted on said mandrels; meansfor moving the mandrels with the bobbins mounted thereon in and out ofsurface contact with said rolls; a unitary guide-traveler-transferassembly including a traveler cam, a traveler adapted to reciprocate onsaid traveler cam and a guide for the filamentary material mounted onthe traveler for reciprocation therewith and laying of the filamentarymaterial backward and forward onto a predetermined bobbin, and includinga carriage for said traveler cam, traveler and guide as well as transfermeans for transferring said carriage from in front of one bobbin to infront of the other bobbin; and means for anchoring the filamentarymaterial on the empty bobbin during the transfer operation.
 2. Apparatusfor continuously winding filamentary material on a pair of successivebobbins to form self supporting packages, comprising: a pair of mandrelspositioned in axial relationship to one another; means included in saidmandrels for releasably supporting said bobbins; driving means foraxially rotating said mandrels; a pair of idler rolls adapted to enterinto surface contact with the bobbins on the mandrels; means for movingthe mandrels with the bobbins mounted thereon in and out of surfacecontact with said idler rolls; a unitary guide-traveler-transferassembly including a traveler cam, a traveler adapted to reciprocate onsaid traveler cam and a guide for the filamentary material mounted onthe traveler for reciprocation therewith and laying of the filamentarymaterial backward and forward onto a predetermined bobbin, and includinga carriage for said traveler cam, traveler and guide as well as transfermeans for transferring said carriage from in front of one bobbin to infront of the other bobbin; and means for anchoring the filamentarymaterial on the empty bobbin during the transfer operation.
 3. Apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said mandrels are provided withcantilevered supports and with expanding heads and include releaselevers connected by means of a cam to said cantilevered supports andadapted to expand the expanding head of each mandrel and thereby lockthe bobbin thereon as well as to release said head and thereby enablewithdrawal of the bobbin from the mandrel, and retractable snagger pinsprovided in said expanding head for anchoring the filamentary materialduring the transfer thereof from one bobbin to the other.
 4. Apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein said mandrels are provided withcantilevered supports and with expanding heads and include releaselevers connected by means of a cam to said cantilevered supports andadapted to expand the expanding head of each mandrel and thereby lockthe bobbin thereon as well as to release said head and thereby enablewithdrawal of the bobbin from the mandrel, and retractable snagger pinsprovided in said expanding head for anchoring the filamentary materialduring the transfer thereof from one bobbin to the other.
 5. Apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said means for moving the mandrels withbobbins thereon in and out of contact with said pair of rolls aremanually operable.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said meansfor moving the mandrels with bobbins thereon in and out of contact withsaid pair of idler rolls are manufally operable.
 7. Apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein said traveler cam of the unitaryguide-traveler-transfer assembly is provided with an endless helicoidalgroove on its surface and means are provided for rotating said travelercam axially, and said traveler comprises a projection which moves withinsaid endless helicoidal groove of the rotating traveler cam and therebyreciprocates on said traveler cam, entraining therewith the traveler andthe guide.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said traveler camof the unitary guide-traveler-transfer assembly is provided with anendless helicoidal groove on its surface and means are provided forrotating said traveler cam axially, and said traveler comprises aprojection which moves within said endless helicoidal groove of therotating traveler cam and thereby reciprocates on said traveler cam,entraining therewith the traveler and the guide.
 9. Apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein said transfer means for transferring the carriagefrom in front of one bobbin to in front of the other bobbin consists ofa cylinder-piston couple and said carriage is attached to the end of thepiston of said couple.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein saidtransfer means for transferring the carriage from in front of one bobbinto in front of the other bobbin consists of a cylinder-piston couple andsaid carriage is attached to the end of the piston of said couple. 11.Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sensing device andmeans for activating said sensing device when the package of filamentarymaterial on one bobbin reaches a predetermiend size as well as means forinitiating transfer of the carriage at that point.
 12. Apparatusaccording to claim 2, further comprising a sensing device and means foractivating said sensing device when the package of filamentary materialon one bobbin reaches a predetermined size as well as means forinitiating transfer of the carriage at that point.
 13. Apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising a mechanism for synchronizingtransfer of the carriage, said mechanism being positioned so as toinitiate the transfer when the traveler is at the extreme end of itstravel and is about to start its movement towards the middle of theapparatus, namely in the same direction as the pending transfer motion.14. Apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a mechanism forsynchronizing transfer of the carriage, said mechanism being positionedso as to initiate the transfer when the traveler is at the extreme endof its travel and is about to start its movement towards the middle ofthe apparatus, namely in the same direction as the pending transfermotion.
 15. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cuttingdevice between the two bobbins adapted to cut the yarn during transferthereof.
 16. Apparatus according to claim 15, in which said cuttingdevice includes a knife and at least one curved feeding plate leading tothe knife and adapted to guide the filamentary material strung betweenthe two bobbins up to the knife where it is securely cut.
 17. Apparatusaccording to claim 2, further comprising a cutting device between thetwo bobbins to cut the yarn during transfer thereof.
 18. Apparatusaccording to claim 17, in which said cutting device includes a knife andat least one curved feeding plate leading to the knife and adapted toguide the filamentary material strung between the two bobbins up to theknife where it is securely cut.
 19. Apparatus for continuously windingyarn on a pair of successive bobbins to form self supporting yarnpacakges, comprising: a pair of expanding mandrels positioned in axialrelationship to one another; means included in said mandrels forreleasably supporting said bobbins, each of said mandrels having acantilevered support and an expanding head; release levers connected bya cam to said cantilevered support and adapted to expand the expandinghead of each mandrel and thereby lock the bobbin thereon as well as torelease said head and thereby enable withdrawal of said bobbin from themandrel; retractable snagger pins provided in said expanding head foranchoring the yarn during transfer thereof from one bobbin to the other;driving rolls for rotating said mandrels with the bobbins thereon byfrictional surface engagement; means for moving the mandrels with thebobbins thereon in and out of driveable relationship with the drivingrolls; a unitary guide-traveler-transfer assembly including a travelercam provided with an endless helicoidal groove on its surface, means forrotating said traveler cam axially, a traveler having a projEctionentering said helicoidal groove and reciprocating therein when thetraveler cam is rotated, a yarn guide mounted on the traveler, said yarnguide being entrained with said traveler and reciprocating in the samemanner when the traveler cam is rotated and thereby lay the yarnbackward and forward onto a predetermined bobbin, and a carriage forsaid traveler cam, traveler and yarn guide operated by cylinder-pistontransfer means and adapted to transfer said carraige from in front ofone bobbin to in front of the other bobbin; a sensing device and meansfor activating said sensing device when the package of the yarn on oneof the bobbins has reached a predetermined size, as well as means forsynchronizing transfer of the carriage at that point so that transferthereof starts when the traveler is at the extreme end of its travel andis about to commence its movement in the same direction as the pendingtransfer motion; and a cutting device for securely cutting the yarnbetween the two expanding mandrels during transfer of the carriage.